The Heart and Stroke Foundation is looking for 90,000 dedicated volunteers for Heart Month.

TORONTO, Oct. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - For more than sixty years, Canadians have been helping to save lives from heart disease and stroke by joining the Heart Month canvass. The canvass has evolved to include online fundraising, and this year, Dr. Roberta Bondar, Canada's first woman astronaut and a neurologist, is encouraging Canadians to become part of this February tradition.

"I truly believe in the spirit of volunteering, it is something very close to my heart," says Dr. Bondar, who joined the Heart and Stroke Foundation last year as Honorary Chair of both Heart Month and Stroke Month (later in June). "As a canvasser you will not only be helping raise funds, which is the most urgent research challenge we're facing today, but you'll also have the opportunity to provide critical information about heart disease and stroke to those around you."

Every seven minutes a Canadian dies from heart disease or stroke, but when someone volunteers for the Heart Month canvass, they are helping to fund 850 of our country's best researchers who work tirelessly to protect Canadians' health. Volunteers are also helping family, friends and neighbours by sharing life-saving health information.

The Heart Month campaign is one of the Foundation's most significant fundraising programs, generating upwards of 10 million dollars and reaching 2 million homes, but it can't be done without canvassers. "We're very grateful for the support we had last year from volunteers across Canada. We hope past canvassers will join us again, and that we see new faces. More canvassers means greater impact in preventing disease, saving lives and promoting recovery from heart disease and stroke," added Dr. Bondar.

Volunteer jobs include canvassers, area captains and zone leaders. For more information about volunteering in your neighbourhood please visit heartandstroke.ca/help or call 1-888-473-4636.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation's mission is to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery. A volunteer-based health charity, we strive to tangibly improve the health of every Canadian family, every day. Healthy lives free of heart disease and stroke. Together we will make it happen. heartandstroke.ca